The Columbia, Nationality and Religion

[heidi]

I don't know why this bugged me, but it did.

This picture was on the front page of The Miami Herald yesterday morning. A cross, marking the place where they found remains of one of the Columbia crew, and flowers placed at its base.

Why a cross, when there's a 2 in 7 likelihood that the person whose remains were there was not a Christian? Ramon was Jewish, and as I understand it (Madhuri can correct me, I'm sure) Chawla was Hindu.

While I certainly respect the dedication of the searchers, who spent their time searching for something to be able to bring to the families of those killed, I can't help but find their mode of marking, well, problematic. I won't say offensive, because I am sure it wasn't done with any negative feelings, but possibly simply out of ignorance.

I've gone to churches before - I've gone to Catholic and Protestant-denomination funerals - but the marker where a Jewish man lays - or has laid - should not be designated with a cross.

It contrasted sharply in my mind this morning with the fact that NASA has made a concerted effort not to drape any of the coffins bearing remains with the US flag alone, as Ramon was an Israeli citizen. They, at this point, don't know whose remains are in those coffins, and the consideration shown is remarkable.

I just hope that even though the original intentions may have been good, if it's learned that Ramon's or Chawla's remains were at that location marked with the cross, that the cross is removed and replaced with something more appropriate.

Comments

[powersh20works.livejournal.com]

It's a shame that while this country was established as one of religious freedom, that notion was immediately dwarfed by religious nuts. 'Work ethic' is not all that the Puritans gave to us. It's too bad that more people don't listen to Jefferson. I discuss my religious beliefs only with people who ask me about them directly, in my own personal writing, or in a church community. Or, as in recent cases (http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?journal=powersh20works&itemid=27125#cutid1), when people insult me because of my personal beliefs. When will people realize that when it comes to spirituality, one man's weed is another man's flower? It's personal.

[kindofwhimsical.livejournal.com]

Actually, though the Puritans were seeking freedom from the Church of England, they were only a small first wave of the settlers that originally came here. What this country was really founded on is money - untapped reasources that could be translated into profit here and back in England.

So, you know. Take that and do with it what you may. ::shrug::